Page 48 of Island Homecoming

“Can I ask you a question?” Her soft voice was a shock after she’d been barking orders minutes ago.

“After you answer mine.”

On a heavy sigh, her head dropped onto his chest.

If this was his last time to be close to her, he sure as hell wasn’t going to settle for this. He’d remember this day with all of his senses, and etch that memory into his head for life. He sat up, forcing himself to watch her every movement as she did the same. He soaked in the view of her right here with him. He refused to look back toward the marina. The rest of her law enforcement team and the special protection unit, were irrelevant to him. She was the only thing that mattered.

“Jess,” he pressed, bumping her shoulder. “Answer the question.”

“I do itbecauseI love you.”

That was the last thing he expected to hear. “It feels wrong to use love as an excuse for your bravery.”

She sputtered. “I think you missed the point.I love you.” She gave him a little shove and he wrapped his arms around her.

“Come on. Loving me can’t be why you race into danger.”

She wriggled, but he held tight. “I disagree. Knowing you love me too is part of what makes it possible.”

“Hey. I didn’t even get to say the words,” he protested. “You’re jumping ahead.”

“Well, I’ve always been a good listener,” she said. “Maybe you should catch up.” Her eyes were sparkling with mischief. Or adrenaline. “Whenever you’re ready,” she added quietly. “To expand on my answer, I’m wired this way. Wired for protection. And there is nothing wrong with me.”

“Never said there was.” He kissed her temple. His pride stung a bit that she claimed his love before he could give her the words in some romantic setting. Somewhere that wasn’t a crime scene.

“Because I love you—and people in general—I do what others can’t. Who else was going to take down Burrell and protect our island?”

“Hmm. Maybe Frasier, Caldwell, or anyone else on the team?” Sarcasm aside, he got it. She was wired differently. Her commitment, dedication, and integrity were integral facets of what made her such an amazing person and excellent cop.

“I’m part of that team,” she grumbled, easing out of his embrace.

He was losing her. Or he would if he didn’t fight for all that they deserved. Together. If she was brave enough to tackle criminals, he could find the courage to share his deepest hopes and dreams. Specifically, the one dream that mattered the most.

“Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are when you’re taking down a drug smuggler?”

Her mouth opened. Closed again. Then she threw her head back and laughed. “No. No one has ever said anything like that to me.” She pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. “The sun must’ve gone to your head.”

“That’s not it.” He caught her hand, held it over his heart. “You, Jess Keller, are the strongest person I know. And I’m Roxy Billings’s son.”

She chuckled. “What a compliment. Your mom is a legend.”

Who else but Jess would understand what that meant to him? “I love you,” he said. “And I finally see what being a cop means to you.” He felt terrible for discouraging her, despite the crisis she was working through.

“Well. Wow.” She couldn’t seem to look at him, though she clutched his hand like a lifeline. “Not all days are like this,” she said.

“Thank God,” he said with feeling. He was playing a long game here.

These past couple of weeks had stressed him out, despite knowing she could handle herself. Mentioning it now wasn’t fair to either of them. It would take time to adjust to being a cop’s partner. Assuming she gave him that chance. “I didn’t understand what all this meant to you… before.”

“As if I knew what I was doing?” Her palm was cool on his cheek. “We were kids, Nash. Kids make mistakes.”

But their mistakes had cost him his soulmate. Even if he hadn’t recognized that until recently.

“Is life here so bad? So terribly boring?”

“No! Quiet days as a cop are good things.”

They were in full agreement on that.

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